A dofollow link is a normal link that doesn't carry a rel attribute telling search engines to ignore it. A nofollow link carries rel="nofollow", which asks search engines not to treat it as an endorsement. Google describes nofollow as a hint, not a strict command, so don't assume a nofollow link does nothing, and don't assume a dofollow link will move rankings.
How to tell them apart
"Dofollow" isn't an official HTML value. It's just shorthand for a link with no nofollow-type attribute. To check one, open the page, inspect the link's HTML, and look at the rel attribute.
- rel="nofollow": a hint not to pass endorsement.
- rel="sponsored": for paid or affiliate placements.
- rel="ugc": for user-generated content such as comments and forum posts.
- No rel attribute: a standard, followed link.
Quick comparison
| Dofollow (standard) | Nofollow / sponsored / ugc | |
|---|---|---|
| Markup | No rel restriction | rel="nofollow", "sponsored" or "ugc" |
| Typical sources | Editorial mentions, resource pages | Paid placements, comments, many social profiles |
| Ranking signal | Can contribute | Treated as a hint; weight is uncertain |
| Other value | Referral traffic, discovery | Referral traffic, discovery, brand exposure |
Recommended for youHow to Check and Audit a Backlink Profile: A Step-by-Step WalkthroughWhat to do with this in practice
- Don't chase dofollow only. A natural profile contains a mix, and a profile made entirely of followed links can look odd.
- Judge a link by relevance and the audience that sees it, not just its attribute.
- Mark paid or affiliate links as sponsored on your own site. Selling followed links is a risk under Google's guidelines.
- When you audit, record the link type next to each link. Our guide to reading backlink metrics covers link types alongside referring domains and authority scores.
The trade-off: followed links are more likely to help in search, but they're also harder to earn. Nofollow links are easier to get and still bring visitors, but you shouldn't count on them for ranking gains. Tools also detect attributes with varying accuracy, so spot-check anything important in the page source.
Related
- How to Check and Audit a Backlink Profile
- How to Analyze Anchor Text Patterns in Your Backlink Profile
- What is the difference between backlinks and referring domains?
- Backlink Monitoring & Analysis
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